Fine tune your holiday shipping strategy, important dates to remember

If you want Aunt Gertrude in California to receive her annual fruitcake from you in time for Christmas you need to plan ahead.

According to the National Retail Federation nearly 3 billion packages were shipped during the 2018 Christmas season. Current projections are predicting that number will increase by almost 5% during this year’s holiday.

With just one week left until Thanksgiving and the Christmas shopping season in full swing, it’s time to fine tune your holiday shipping strategy.

I’ve compiled a few important dates for you to remember regarding shipping deadlines from the three major contiguous U.S. carriers; United States Postal Service (USPS), United Parcel Service (UPS) and FedEx.

Following are the recommended send-by dates so your loved ones will receive their packages before Dec. 25. Contact these agencies for a more detailed delivery schedule and additional shipping information. Some restrictions may apply.

USPS

First Class Mail - Dec. 20

Priority Mail - Dec. 21

Priority Mail Express - Dec. 23

USPS Retail Ground - Dec. 14

UPS

UPS Ground - Dec. 13

UPS 3-Day Select - Dec. 19

UPS 2nd Day Air - Dec. 20

UPS Next Day Air - Dec. 23

FedEx

FedEx SmartPost - Dec. 9

FedEx Home Delivery and FedEx Ground - Dec. 16

FedEx Express Saver - Dec. 19

FedEx 2-Day A.M. and FedEx 2-Day - Dec. 20

FedEx Standard Overnight; Priority Overnight and First Overnight - Dec. 23

FedEx SameDay; SameDay City Priority and SameDay City Direct - Dec. 25

Area Events

• Saturday, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale at the Qulin Nutrition Center, 236 Second Street in Qulin beside the fire station. Wonderful homemade breads, rolls, jellies, candy, cookies and desserts will be available to shoppers. A variety of vendors will be on hand with craft items, fancy needle work and much more. The thrift store will also be open during the event. For more information you may call 573-328-4406.

• Saturday, Nov 30, Christmas at the Rodgers Theatre in downtown Poplar Bluff. Santa will make an appearance at 5:30 p.m. in the theater prior to the showing of the double feature. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Home Alone” movies will begin at 7 p.m. The event is free to the public, but donations will be gratefully accepted. The concession stand will be open and offering hot chocolate and coffee on its menu.

Special announcement

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the Daily American Republic will not publish a paper next Thursday so all of us may enjoy the day with our friends and families. Look for my next To-Do list column in the Thursday, Dec. 5 edition.

Wishing you, our readers, a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving celebration.